Konoha: Starting with the Tenseigan and Taking Charge of Team 7

Dead-last.

Show-off.

Boy-crazy girl.

Ugh, what a pain.

If not for the Mentor-Disciple System, he would have quit long ago and left the village to enjoy himself.

Aogetsu Hyuga's Overwhelming Strength!

"Those introductions were fine. Now that the formalities are over, let's begin the real test." Aogetsu Hyuga raised a finger. "The test is simple: one step."

"Just one step."

"Use Kunai, attack with Fire Release—use whatever you like. If you can make me take one step, you pass."

"Pass, and you officially become Genin. Fail, and every member of Team 7 will lose the right to become a Ninja forever."

"So give it your best. Attack me like you mean to kill me." With his hands in his pockets, Aogetsu Hyuga looked calmly at Team 7. He had made the test simple for the Mentor-Disciple System's reward; this was only a formality.

One step sounded easy.

But...

For three Genin, making someone with Six Paths Power move even a single step was a daunting task.

"If we fail, we lose the right to become Ninja?"

Every member of Team 7 froze. Did that mean failing the test would send them back to the Ninja Academy?

What kind of joke was that?

They had worked so hard to become Ninja. How could they accept going back to the Ninja Academy?

Besides, if all of Team 7 had to return to the Ninja Academy, the entire village would laugh at them!

Sakura Haruno asked anxiously, "Aogetsu-sensei, you said we should attack you like we're trying to kill you. Is that... really okay?"

"It's fine, it's fine." Aogetsu Hyuga waved a hand, the corners of his mouth lifting in a deliberately mocking smile. "You're all pretty weak, after all."

"Damn it! You're way too arrogant! How hard can one step be? I'll knock you flying with one punch!" Naruto Uzumaki leaped forward and swung his fist straight at Aogetsu.

"Naruto!" Sakura Haruno cried.

That absolute idiot. Sasuke Uchiha cursed inwardly. He was sure there had to be a reason Aogetsu had proposed such an ordinary test.

"Did no one teach you to respect your teacher? You could at least call me Aogetsu-sensei." Aogetsu Hyuga watched Naruto Uzumaki close in, raised a finger, and flicked him on the forehead.

Bang! Naruto Uzumaki flew away like a cannonball and crashed heavily to the ground far off.

"Aaaah! It hurts! It hurts!" Clutching his swollen red forehead, Naruto Uzumaki rolled across the ground in pain.

"He's incredible." Sakura Haruno stared at Aogetsu in disbelief. He had sent Naruto flying with just one finger. Was this the strength of a Jonin?

"I forgot to mention: I'll fight back, too." Aogetsu Hyuga chuckled. "Now, begin."

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" Sasuke Uchiha sprang backward, ran through hand signs, and breathed out a stream of scorching flame that swelled into a fireball.

The blazing fireball scorched the ground as it hurtled toward Aogetsu Hyuga.

"A Great Fireball? Its power is almost Chunin-level. The Uchiha kid isn't bad." Aogetsu Hyuga watched the meteor-like fireball approach with a faint smile.

When the fireball was a hair's breadth from Aogetsu—

"Phew." Aogetsu Hyuga blew gently. A gale packed with immense Chakra tore the scorching fireball apart.

"H-how is that possible? This guy..." Sasuke Uchiha froze. Even with his usually impassive nature, he struggled to accept what he had just seen.

He had expected Aogetsu-sensei to defend against the meteor-like Great Fireball with Earth Release or Water Release.

But he never imagined...

Aogetsu-sensei had dispersed the Great Fireball he had unleashed at full strength with a single gentle breath.

Was this the strength of a Jonin?

Was the gap between him and a Jonin really that vast?

He couldn't accept it!

But it was the truth.

After a moment of stunned disbelief, Sasuke Uchiha grasped the situation. With his current strength, he had no hope of making Aogetsu take a step.

"Tch."

Gritting his teeth, Sasuke Uchiha sprang backward and raced through the forest. He needed to put distance between himself and Aogetsu, then work out a way to attack.

"He blew away a fireball that powerful with one breath. Good thing I didn't rush in." Fear flashed through Sakura Haruno's eyes. She quietly put away her Kunai and hurried after Sasuke.

"Sasuke, wait for me."

Watching Sasuke and Sakura run through the forest with his Tenseigan, Aogetsu Hyuga said approvingly, "The right call."

The Uchiha kid had judged correctly. With Team 7's current strength, a frontal assault would never make him move a step.

As for Sakura Haruno, that boy-crazy kid hadn't made any clever judgment. She was just following Sasuke.

Still, picking on young kids once in a while was rather fun.

"Being cautious is good, but isn't this a bit much?" Aogetsu Hyuga was speechless. His Tenseigan had perception beyond the Byakugan; he could see Sasuke and Sakura perfectly where they hid.

Yet Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno showed no sign of attacking, not even from ambush. It left him at a loss for words.

Naruto Uzumaki leaped down in front of Aogetsu Hyuga, folded his arms, and declared with absolute confidence, "Sasuke can hide like a coward, but I'm standing right here! Let's settle this fair and square!"

He hadn't thought it through. His whole plan came down to one word.

Charge!

Why worry about anything else? Just charge in!

"Stupid, but kind of endearing." The corner of Aogetsu Hyuga's mouth twitched. This was the first time anyone had dared challenge him to a fair fight in the open.

And a Genin kid, at that.

A newborn calf really doesn't fear the tiger.

Even the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure had resorted to sneak attacks when fighting him. Naruto Uzumaki had guts.

Hidden in the trees, Sasuke Uchiha watched Naruto Uzumaki stand openly before Aogetsu Hyuga and cursed under his breath. "That idiot."

Still, this worked for him.

With that idiot Naruto Uzumaki attacking, he could watch for an opening in Aogetsu-sensei's defenses.

"Sharingan!" Sasuke Uchiha closed his eyes, then snapped them open to reveal his scarlet One-Tomoe Sharingan. He fixed his gaze on Aogetsu Hyuga.

He would use the Sharingan, the pride of the Uchiha Clan, to find Aogetsu Hyuga's weakness and strike.

Sakura Haruno hid beside Sasuke, her slender body concealed by thick leaves. Watching Naruto's blatant challenge, she pressed a hand to her forehead and shook her head helplessly.

"Ugh, idiot. Aogetsu-sensei just sent you flying, and you still dare attack him head-on?"

Naruto Uzumaki pointed at Aogetsu Hyuga and grinned. "No one's here to interrupt us now. Let's settle this, Aogetsu-sensei!"

Aogetsu Hyuga gestured for him to proceed and smiled. "Go ahead. Attack however you like."

"Damn it, don't underestimate me!" Naruto Uzumaki crossed two fingers. Poof! A cloud of pale smoke billowed around him, filled with human silhouettes.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"

More than a dozen of Naruto Uzumaki's Shadow Clones burst from the smoke. They surrounded Aogetsu and launched a furious attack together.

"I'll knock you flying with one punch!"

"Hey, don't steal the glory! I'm supposed to knock Aogetsu-sensei flying first!"

"Quit shoving me, you jerk!"

"Whatever! Can you guys just attack already?"

"I'm starving."

"Me too."

The dozen-odd Shadow Clones charged Aogetsu, shouting over one another.

The Tenseigan's Destructive Power!

"A group attack? Not bad, I suppose. But cheap tricks don't work on me." Aogetsu Hyuga kept his hands in his pockets as he watched the Shadow Clones rush him. Then he slowly raised one hand and extended a finger. "Repulsion."

Whoom! Repulsive Force burst from Aogetsu like a gale in every direction, ripping up the very ground.

Bang, bang, bang! The immense force dispersed every Shadow Clone and hurled the real Naruto Uzumaki toward Sasuke and the others' hiding place.

"Aaaaaah!" Naruto Uzumaki fell from the sky. Drawn by Attractive Force, he flew straight at Sasuke Uchiha.

"Idiot, you—what's with this force?" Sasuke Uchiha moved to catch Naruto, but an invisible force locked his whole body in place. He could only watch Naruto hurtle closer.

Their lips met.

"Mmph!" Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke stared at each other, eyes wide.

"..." Sakura Haruno stared blankly at the strange sight of Sasuke and Naruto pressed together, one hand covering her O-shaped mouth.

"Blegh!"

Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha broke apart at the same instant. Turning away from each other, they clutched their throats and retched.

"I'll kill you someday—blegh!" Sasuke Uchiha shot Naruto Uzumaki a cold glare, his face twisted in disgust. He retched again before he could finish speaking.

"Sasuke, you bastard..." Naruto Uzumaki clenched his fists, furious, but before he could say more—

"Naruto!" Sakura Haruno's face darkened. She seemed to radiate flames as she advanced on Naruto Uzumaki step by step, her clenched fists cracking.

"S-Sakura, let me explain..." Naruto Uzumaki dropped to the ground in fright and scrambled backward.

"Aaaaaah!"

Naruto Uzumaki's miserable screams echoed through the forest.

"Two grown guys kissing. Now that's a sight..." Aogetsu Hyuga raised a hand to his forehead and peered toward the forest. He couldn't hold back a snort of laughter. "Pfft. That's hilarious."

He had only meant to take the chance to attack Sasuke Uchiha as well. He never expected to make the two of them kiss.

Rubbing his chin, Aogetsu Hyuga muttered to himself, "For a power that controls Attractive Force, calling that move 'Repulsion' feels a little plain."

His Tenseigan let him wield both Attractive Force and Repulsive Force freely. Its power was even great enough to pull the moon into the Ninja World.

Though the Tenseigan possessed Six Paths Power on par with the Rinnegan, its overall abilities were far stronger.

The Tenseigan's signature ability, Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion, was powerful enough to slice the entire moon in two!

If the Rinnegan represented the power of creation, then the Tenseigan embodied destruction at its absolute peak!

Aogetsu Hyuga had once considered naming his Attractive Force and Repulsive Force moves Banshō Ten'in and Shinra Tensei.

After all, a great name made a move feel even cooler. Shouting a flashy technique name was every man's dream!

In the end, though, he hadn't stolen the Rinnegan's move names.

Time passed slowly, and no one in Team 7 made a move.

Aogetsu Hyuga was mildly surprised that Naruto Uzumaki was behaving himself.

"Anyway, time to eat." Aogetsu Hyuga took out a lunchbox and opened it to reveal a generous meal. Hinata had made it for him before he left home.

As she packed it, Hinata had said in her soft, gentle voice:

"B-Big Brother Aogetsu, even someone strong needs to eat properly."

"Mmm, delicious." Aogetsu Hyuga ate heartily. He hadn't eaten anything since waking up, and he really was a little hungry.

"I'll make some coffee, too." Aogetsu Hyuga took out a Scroll and opened it. Poof! A small coffee machine appeared on the ground.

Aogetsu Hyuga leisurely ate his meal and brewed himself a rich milk coffee.

He was deliberately tempting Team 7.

Meanwhile, in the forest...

"Smells... so good." Naruto Uzumaki sniffed the aroma drifting from the lunchbox in the distance. His stomach growled.

Grrrr. Sasuke Uchiha's and Sakura Haruno's stomachs growled too.

They really were hungry. They had managed to ignore it before, but after watching Aogetsu eat heartily and leisurely sip his milk coffee...